Plate Carrying Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A plate-carrying apparatus comprises a base, an adjusting rack assembly, a telescopic supporting rack and a bearing seat. The base is connected to the adjusting rack assembly and the telescopic supporting rack, respectively. The adjusting rack assembly is pivotally connected to the bearing seat. A height adjusting mechanism formed by the base and the adjusting rack presses against the bearing seat to fix it, such that the carrying height of the bearing seat can be easily controlled. In addition, the bearing seat is pivotally connected to the adjusting rack assembly, so the bearing seat can be collected by rotating the bearing seat relative to the adjusting rack assembly, so as to reduce the storage space.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a carrying apparatus, and more particularly to a plate-carrying apparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A conventional plate-carrying apparatus comprises a bearing rack pivotally disposed on a square-shaped base having a plurality of rods and is provided for bearing and carrying the plate, however, such a base is square-shaped welding by the plurality of rods, so the base will occupy much space. As a result, the conventional plate-carrying apparatus is inconvenient to move and store.

In addition, when in use, the conventional plate-carrying apparatus utilizes the bearing rack to carry the plate, and when the bearing rack is adjusted to a height corresponding to the machine, a height-adjustable footrest must be disposed at each corner of the base. Moreover, the plate cannot be moved in the machine until the corners are adjusted to the heights corresponding to the machine.

In order to facilitate the plate to move on the bearing rack of the plate-baring tool, a plurality of unidirectional rollers is disposed on the bearing rack. Although the rollers are used to facilitate the plate to move to the machine, the plate only can be moved in a single direction. If the plate is slightly deviated from the machine, it is impossible to use the rollers to adjust the relative position of the plate. If the user doesn't take the plate up, the position of the plate-carrying apparatus must be adjusted again. If the user takes the plate up and puts it on the machine, the damage to the plate is likely to occur due to human carelessness.

It is apparent from the above-mentioned descriptions that the conventional plate-carrying apparatus is inconvenient to move and store, and the height of the plate only can be adjusted by disposing footrests. Further, the rollers on the bearing rack only can be moved in a single direction, which increases the difficulty when the plate moves from the bearing rack to the machine.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a plate-carrying apparatus which can adjust the carrying height easily.

The second objective of the present invention is to provide a plate-carrying apparatus which can reduce the size and the storage space.

The third objective of the present invention is to provide a plate-carrying apparatus which can be moved freely and horizontally.

To achieve the objectives of the present invention, the plate-carrying apparatus of the present invention comprises a base, an adjusting rack assembly, a telescopic supporting rack and a bearing seat. The base is connected to the adjusting rack assembly and the telescopic supporting rack, respectively. The adjusting rack assembly includes a plurality of reverse V-shaped racks and is pivotally connected to the bearing seat. The telescopic supporting rack can be extended or retracted according to different heights of the bearing seat, so as to adjust the length of the telescopic supporting rack, enabling the telescopic supporting rack to press against the bearing seat to fix it.

The height of the bearing seat and the plate placed on the bearing seat can be adjusted by controlling the angle of each rack of the adjusting rack assembly. The bearing seat can be collected by rotating the bearing seat relative to the adjusting rack assembly, so as to reduce the storage space. Moreover, a plurality of balls can be disposed on the bearing seat, so that when the plate is placed on the bearing seat, the plate can be moved freely.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plate-carrying apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view showing the plate-carrying apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing the driving of a driving assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an illustrative view showing the adjustment of the height of a bearing seat in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is an illustrative view showing the carrying member being rotated relative to the connecting rod.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a plate-carrying apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a base 10, an adjusting rack assembly 20, a telescopic supporting rack 30 and a bearing seat 40.

The base 10 includes a rectangular-shaped outer frame 11 and a cross-shaped inner frame 12 fixed to the outer frame 11. Six rollers 13 are pivotally disposed at a lower side of the base 10, and both opposite lateral sides of the outer frame 11 of the base 10 are equidistantly disposed with three rollers 13, respectively.

The adjusting rack assembly 20 includes three reverse V-shaped racks 21, a rod 22 and a driving assembly 23. The racks 21 are disposed side by side on the base 10. Each rack 21 includes two rods 211 and 212. One end of the rod 211 and one end of the rod 212 are connected by a pivotal portion 213, the other end of the rod 211 is pivotally disposed at the base 10, and the other end of the rod 212 is pivotally connected to the rod 22. The racks 21 are interconnected and moved by the rod 22. The rods 211 and 212 of the middle rack 21 are pivotally disposed with a buffer member 214 (each buffer member 214 can be a shock absorber which provides the buffering effect by a spring, or a nitrogen cylinder which provides the buffering effect by nitrogen), respectively. The driving assembly 23 is connected to the rod 22 and the base 10 to move the rod 22 relative to the base 10. The driving assembly 23 includes two shaft seats 231, a displacement seat 232, a screw 233 and a handle 234. The shaft seats 231 are mounted on the base 10, respectively. The displacement seat 232 is disposed on the rod 22. The screw 233 is passed through the shaft seats 231 and is threaded with the displacement seat 232. The handle 234 is disposed at one end of the screw 233.

The telescopic supporting rack 30 is vertically disposed on the base 10 and can be extended and retracted. The extending and retracting motion of the telescopic supporting rack 30 are of conventional structure and technique and will not be described in detail.

The bearing seat 40 includes a connecting rod 41 and a carrying member 42. The connecting rod 41 is pivotally connected to the pivotal portions 213 of the racks 21 and is hinged to the carrying member 42 by four hinge members 43. The telescopic supporting rack 30 presses against the carrying member 42 to fix it, and the carrying member 42 is pivotally connected to the buffer members 214 of the adjusting rack assembly 20. In addition, a plurality of balls 44 is disposed on the carrying member 42.

Referring to FIG. 3, when adjusting the height of the bearing seat 40, the user rotates the handle 234 of the driving assembly 23 of the adjusting rack assembly 20, such that the screw 233 is rotated on the shaft seats 231 and drives the displacement seat 232 to axially move along the screw 233.

Referring to FIG. 4, when it moves axially along the screw 233, the displacement seat 232 will drive the rod 22 of the adjusting rack assembly 20 to move, and then the rod 22 will move the racks 21 of the adjusting rack assembly 20, making the rod 211 of each rack 21 rotate around the base 10, and making the rods 211 and 212 of each rack 21 rotate around the pivotal portion 213, such that the angle between the rods 211 and 212 of each rack 21, and the height from each pivotal portion 213 to the base 10 will be changed. Since the connecting rod 41 of the bearing seat 40 is pivotally connected to the pivotal portion 213 of each rack 21, the bearing seat 40 will be driven by the racks 21 to move, such that the height from the bearing seat 40 to the base 10 is changed. After that, the telescopic supporting rack 30 can be adjusted to support the bearing seat 40 simply by adjusting the length of the telescopic supporting rack 30, and thus the height of the bearing seat 40 is adjusted. After the bearing seat 40 is adjusted to a height corresponding to the machine, a plate (such as a panel used for an ordinary LCD screen) placed on the carrying member 42 of the bearing seat 40 can be freely moved to the machine by the balls 44 disposed on the carrying member 42 for processing, or can be pushed to a storage rack for storing.

Further, the connecting rod 41 of the bearing seat 40 is hinged to the carrying member 42 by the hinge members 43, so that the carrying member 42 can rotate relative to the connecting rod 41 as shown in FIG. 5. Thereby, when not in use, the bearing seat 40 will occupy less transverse space and is easy to collect.

In addition, the buffer members 214 of the adjusting rack assembly 20 are pivotally connected to the carrying member 42, so that when the carrying member 42 is rotated relatively to the connecting rod 41, a buffering effect will be provided, so as to prevent the carrying member 42 from rotating suddenly and impacting other objects, causing damage.

While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A plate-carrying apparatus, comprising: a base; an adjusting rack assembly having a plurality of racks, a rod and a driving assembly, the racks being disposed side by side on the base, each rack having two rods connected by a pivotal portion, one of the rods of each rack being pivotally disposed at the base, the other rod of each rack being pivotally connected to the rod of the adjusting rack assembly, the driving assembly being connected to the base and the rod of the adjusting rack assembly, respectively to move the rod of the adjusting rack assembly relative to the base; a telescopic supporting rack disposed on the base; and a bearing seat pivotally connected to the pivotal portion of the respective racks of the adjusting rack assembly, the telescopic supporting rack presses against the bearing seat to fix it.
 2. The plate-carrying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one lateral side of the base is disposed with a plurality of rollers.
 3. The plate-carrying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rods of one rack of the adjusting rack assembly are pivotally disposed with a buffer member, respectively, and the buffer members are pivotally connected to the bearing seat.
 4. The plate-carrying apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the buffer members of the adjusting rack assembly are shock absorbers or nitrogen cylinders.
 5. The plate-carrying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving assembly of the adjusting rack assembly includes two shaft seats, a displacement seat, a screw and a handle, the shaft seats are mounted on the base, respectively, the displacement seat is disposed at the rod of the adjusting rack assembly, the screw is passed through the shaft seats and is threaded with the displacement seat, the handle is disposed at one end of the screw.
 6. The plate-carrying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bearing seat includes a connecting rod and a carrying member, the connecting rod is hinged to the carrying member by a plurality of hinge members and is pivotally connected to the pivotal portions of the racks of the adjusting rack assembly, and the telescopic supporting rack presses against the carrying member to fix it.
 7. The plate-carrying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rods of one rack of the adjusting rack assembly are pivotally disposed with a buffer member, respectively, the bearing seat includes a connecting rod and a carrying member, the connecting rod is hinged to the carrying member by a plurality of hinge members, the telescopic supporting rack presses against the carrying member to fix it, and the carrying member is pivotally connected to the buffer members of the adjusting rack assembly.
 8. The plate-carrying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of balls is disposed on the bearing seat.
 9. The plate-carrying apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein a plurality of balls is disposed on the carrying member of the bearing seat.
 10. The plate-carrying apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein a plurality of balls is disposed on the carrying member of the bearing seat. 